What's NASDAQ?

NASDAQ is a familiarbut strange name for people.We often learn its news via different kinds of media,thoughquite a lot of people can not tell what exactly it means.

NASDAQ,short for theNational Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations system,is one ofthe largest market in the world for stocks trading. The number of

companies in NASDAQ ismore than that of the other stock exchange in America,including the New York StockExchange(NYSE)and the American Stock Exchange

(AMEX).

Most of the companieslisted on NASDAQ are smaller than most of those on the NYSE and AMEX.NASDAQ hasbecome recognized as the home of new technology

companies,especiallycomputer and computer-related businesses.Trading on NASDAQ is initiated by stockbrokers acting on behalf of their clients.The brokers negotiate

with market makers whoconcentrate on trading specific stocks to reach a price for the stock.

Different from otherstock exchange,NASDAQ has no central location where trading takes place.Instead,itsmarket makers can be found all over the country and make trades

by telephone and viathe Internet. Since brokers and market makers trade stocks directly instead of onthe floor of a stock exchange,NASDAQ is called an over-the-counter

market. The term over-the-counterrefers to the direct nature of the trading,as in a store where goods are handedover a counter.

Since its foundationin 1971,the NASDAQ Stock Market has been the innovator. As the world's first electronicstock market,NASDAQ long ago set a precedent for

technological tradinginnovation that is unrivaled.Now poised to become the world's first truly globalmarket,the NASDAQ Stock Market is the market of choice for business

industry leaders worldwide.Byproviding an efficient environment for raising capital NASDAQ has helped thousandsof companies achieve their desired growth and

successfully make theleap into public ownership.Who started NASDAQ?

A.By stock brokers actingrepresenting their clients.

B.By market makers whoconcentrate on trading specific stocks to reach a price for the stock.

C.By business industryleaders worldwide.

D.By companies listedon NASDAQ.